Is 5ft 9 tall enough for tennis?

I know that height shouldn't be a limiting factor for a amateur player like me, but I'd like to know how much height affects tennis playing after all. Would I have a huge increase in performance if I were 6 ft 2, for instance?

I'm a 3.0~3.5 player, still developing much of the game aspects. I also know that it's hard to answer that, but in case of a 5.0 player who is 5ft 9, is he able to serve well despite his height?

How does Ferrer, for instance, being on the short side, compare to taller players close to his ranking?

Reality is it is something you're born with and cannot change. So if you are 5', 5'9", or whatever -- embrace it. I feel height has an impact on serve. As a general rule, the taller the player, the harder it is to return his serve.

I greatly dislike returning serve from a guy around my height (6'2") or taller. The angle of the served ball coming down from the sky is greater and often with pace. Against average-height servers returning is easier.

Still, a short guy with a good kick serve will damage me more than a tall dude hitting flat as Incan just block those back. Kick serve gives you great clearance over the net no matter your height.

Half the guys on our college team were at least six foot and the most successful ones (except one) were in that group.

Finally, being tall has advantages everywhere on the court. But the MAIN thing is talent and application. Tall guy who is lazy versus short guy who works hard -- who wins? Guy who is naturally talented but lazy versus guy who practices his tail off -- who wins?

Ferrer is top ranked because he works very hard and competes his best. In lower levels, this is not as common so any physical advantage is big.

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yes. It is hard to get in the top10 at this height but even the top100 are very possible if you have good technique, talent and fitness.

at 3.5-5.5 it really shouldn't make a big difference. also don't limit yourself to pushing. footwork is even more important at your height but guys like rochus are offensive players albeit no real power hitter. even ferrer got a lot more offensive in the last years (taking the ball early and make the opponent run) and grosjean had a hge FH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qejr9i0oKd8

Yeah, Chang was never any good, neither were EddyDibbs or HaroldSolomon, OlivierRochus or AlbertoBarrasetchi. They just goofed around on the courts, cannon fodder for the other players.
It's 6'5" or doomed to 3.5 level tennis.

5'9" is too short for any position on the pro football field..except for field goal kicker.... CB's that height can't cover 6'4" wideouts...
5'9" is too short for current thought in basketball, because even though you can score 25 points a game, you defense cannot cover to that extent.
I got u by 2".

Just out of curiosity, how tall are you guys? I wrote this topic because I thought 5ft9 was a below average height for a sport like tennis, but I don't think it's below average in all other regards!

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Yes, but you're not trying to become a professional. And even then, it's probably one of the better sports to have a height disadvantage because so much of it is technical skill rather than innate physical qualities.

5'9" is too short for any position on the pro football field..except for field goal kicker.... CB's that height can't cover 6'4" wideouts...
5'9" is too short for current thought in basketball, because even though you can score 25 points a game, you defense cannot cover to that extent.
I got u by 2".

In short, no 5ft 9in is not tall enough to use your physicality to your advantage. But, you are not short for tennis, either.

In professional level, physicality becomes more important, and it can put you at disadvantage. In amateur or recreational level, not so much. Bottomline - it shouldn't deter you from playing and enjoying tennis game.

Think about this, would you stop playing basketball just because you are 5ft 9in? You probably won't play center, but you can still enjoy the game.

Sumo, I don't understand your post.
I'm just north of BerkeleyCa. mainly watch the 49'ers.
What exactly are you saying in regards to Brady's team, whom we play in a couple of weeks.? Isn't Gronk like 6'8"? Our best reciever might be DelanieWalker, about 6'3", but easy 265 lbs. He actually makes an effort to catch the ball, unlike Davis or Moss who barely bother to raise one arm, unless the ball hits their numbers with a thump.
9'ers have'nt played their two top draft picks this year, AJJenkins and that standout OregonU runner, LaMichaelJames. We're weak in running backs, as Gore is injured, Hunter is out for the year, and Jacobs doesn't like to mix it up with the big boyz.

Sumo, I don't understand your post.
I'm just north of BerkeleyCa. mainly watch the 49'ers.
What exactly are you saying in regards to Brady's team, whom we play in a couple of weeks.? Isn't Gronk like 6'8"? Our best reciever might be DelanieWalker, about 6'3", but easy 265 lbs. He actually makes an effort to catch the ball, unlike Davis or Moss who barely bother to raise one arm, unless the ball hits their numbers with a thump.
9'ers have'nt played their two top draft picks this year, AJJenkins and that standout OregonU runner, LaMichaelJames. We're weak in running backs, as Gore is injured, Hunter is out for the year, and Jacobs doesn't like to mix it up with the big boyz.

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How did you get from my reference to the Pats to talking about the 49rs draft picks? What goes on in that head of yours?

What I'm saying is that some of the best players in the league are short and was using the Pats as an example because they have a number of high profile guys that size. It should also be pointed out that a couple of guys you mentioned are also 5'9".

Always thought of Welker as a possession reciever with some speed. His hands are what the Patriots are paying for. Not his height.
Gronk has the height, and is a favorite in the red zone, not Welker.
Big target, tiny defender's, makes a good matchup.
You a Pats fan? Don't want to know any insider secrets? OK. And yes, both AJ and LaMichael are 5'9" tall, but neither are CB's.
Runners, BarrySander's was 5'8". He did OK. LaDainianT also.

I know that height shouldn't be a limiting factor for a amateur player like me, but I'd like to know how much height affects tennis playing after all. Would I have a huge increase in performance if I were 6 ft 2, for instance?

I'm a 3.0~3.5 player, still developing much of the game aspects. I also know that it's hard to answer that, but in case of a 5.0 player who is 5ft 9, is he able to serve well despite his height?

How does Ferrer, for instance, being on the short side, compare to taller players close to his ranking?

Thank you very much for the answers!

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As others have already pointed out, there are top pros and other very good tennis players that are around that height. Taller players may have an easier time generating power but generally seem to be less coordinated, Shorter players seem to be faster and more coordinated but have to work more at generating power - just different advantages/disadvantage and things for each to work on. I played college with an "official" height of 5'11 but actually I'm not sure why that happens to me so often because I'm really 5'9. I've met good players of all different heights. The number 1 player at one school looked to be around 5'6 and there was one impossibly fast player that was around 5'4. A friend who is around 5'9-5'10 made it onto a college team with his major advantage being that he hits very powerful and super low trajectory forhands that gave the taller players a lot of trouble, and I usually had the advantage against him so height isn't everything. Don't worry about it, just get lots of practice and enjoy the game.

I'm relatively short - 5'10", 155 lbs - and I sometimes play against a 6'6" guy, who's a lefty. His serve is a monstrous, high speed lefty slice that I sometimes can't even reach on my backhand, but I get him on the ground game most of the time. Our matches are pretty even, despite the height difference. Just be prepared to hold your serve, anticipate and run, and good things will happen! This is at USTA 4.5, but IMO, 5'9" is fine for high level tennis too, going by the achievements of a certain David Ferrer!

We know the strengths and weaknesses of being tall or short. Can we exploit it to our advantage?
OlivierRochus was 5'5", and played in the solid 7.0 levels, as did several other guys height challenged.
Lots of players taller than 6'6" never made it to the top 50 in the pros, and had the training and opportunity.

I know that height shouldn't be a limiting factor for a amateur player like me, but I'd like to know how much height affects tennis playing after all. Would I have a huge increase in performance if I were 6 ft 2, for instance?

I'm a 3.0~3.5 player, still developing much of the game aspects. I also know that it's hard to answer that, but in case of a 5.0 player who is 5ft 9, is he able to serve well despite his height?

How does Ferrer, for instance, being on the short side, compare to taller players close to his ranking?

Thank you very much for the answers!

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At the recreational/USTA level, I'd say it's more about your ability to play than height.

Sure, you man not be an ace machine, but if you move well, are consistent and play to your strengths, then height won't be much of a factor.

One of the toughest guys I've played over the years is much shorter than I am (I'm 5'11" - not exactly tall myself), but he's tough to beat. Gets to everything and hits well from both sides. Extremely quick and doesn't miss.

On the flip side, I played one guy who was 6'7" - he hit a lot of aces, but I usually beat him in singles because once I manged to get the ball in play I had the advantage in movement.